Back braces and back support devices are designed to meet a variety of different needs, providing stability and limiting range of motion in the spine when necessary. Another common indication for such a support device is in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. The reason why a back brace might be effective in such a treatment is because a brace can help to stop the progression of curvature of the spine in someone who is still growing and developing. Back braces are mostly prescribed, then, for children and adolescents. The back brace can not only prevent further curvature, but it may also decrease what curvature already exists in a young spine.
For this purpose, there are several different styles of back support devices that can be prescribed. The most commonly used brace for this disorder, Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis or AIS, is the Boston brace. Other similar designs that can prove useful in the treatment of this impairment include the Charleston Bending Brace, Milwaukee Brace and the SpineCor brace. There are braces used in other countries for this purpose as well, which include the Cheneau Brace and the SPoRT Brace. Each is effective in some way at treating the curvature of the spine involved in this disorder, but some are more effective than others.
There are issues to consider when it comes to using back braces and back support for patients with scoliosis. For example, there is a psycho-social impact that must be considered, and children in braces cannot exercise and may not be able to get the physical activity that they require. Some research has gone in to quality of life, and so these braces are typically only indicated in situations where the severity of the AIS is likely going to progress, requiring intervention to prevent it from becoming more serious. Patient compliance is another issue, because compliance is affected by many things when you consider the impact a back brace can have on a patient.
Another consideration to make is that back braces can put a lot of pressure on the abdomen. This type of back support, such as the Boston Brace, can be effective at treating spine issues, but may cause other issues in the process, such as uncomfortable digestion. Scoliosis-focused braces focus heavily on inhibiting motion, which can impact quality of life. Some patients cannot tie their shoes, sit down comfortably or sleep at night without pain or discomfort.
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